Brown Bear in a Snow Shower

For the second year running I have received a highly commended image in the European Nature photographer of the year with a Brown Bear image from Finland. I took the image last year on a trip I was running for Natures Images and the weather was very unpredictable for the time of the year. It was a cold night and the brooding clouds promised a snow shower. It did snow for a few minutes but there was no Bear to be seen. It stopped snowing and minutes later a young Bear came out of a forest clearing. I cursed my luck and wished he came just a few minutes earlier and then it started to snow again. This time it was heavier and I was in awe of what was happening in front of me. You can have all the skill in the world in this game but mostly it boils down to good old fashioned lady luck.

Canon 1Ds MKII, 500mm Lens, F4, 1/320, ISO 200